Programmed air leak for deflatable weatherstrip system

ABSTRACT

A deflatable sealing member forms a weatherstrip to seal a closure opening. The sealing member includes an operative tubular section designed to provide tight interference engagement between the closure and vehicle body when vented to atmosphere and expanded by built-in resilient memory. A bellows pump is connected to the sealing member through a flow control circuit. The bellows pump serves to deflate the sealing member during closing of the closure. The bellows pump is adapted for convenient mounting in a cavity in the closure or vehicle body spaced from the closure hinge area. A flexible cable connects the bellows pump to the closure or vehicle body to provide the necessary actuation for operation of the bellows pump in response to the swinging movement of the closure. As the closure closes, a bleed port of fixed or variable size located at the pump vents the sealing member to ambient pressure, and the sealing member expands by resilient memory to its full cross section so as to provide a tight seal.

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/380,421filed July 17, 1989.

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the sealing of closures and,more particularly, to a sealing apparatus for a vehicle closure thatrequires relatively low closing effort but provides an exceptionallyfirm, tight seal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Closed cell sponge weatherstrips have been the standard for years toseal vehicle closures against the passage of air and moisture. Theweatherstrip attaches to the vehicle body or closure around the opening(e.g. door or trunk opening). The weatherstrip preferably includes abulbular or tubular section that is designed to provide an interferencefit between the closure and body, and a mounting section to secure theweatherstrip in place. When the door or trunk lid is closed, theweatherstrip mechanically flexes according to the degree ofinterference. Generally, the greater the interference, the better thesealing function is obtained.

Good sealing of closures is particularly important in vehicles in orderto isolate the passengers from inclement weather conditions; namely,precipitation as well as excessively hot or cold air. Since the vehiclemoves through the air, it is also important to the comfort of thepassengers to minimize the wind noise. It should be recognized, however,that the high degree of interference of the weatherstrip between thedoor and door frame required for good sealing unfortunately increasesthe closing effort

Another consideration for vehicle weatherstrip design relates to anannoying problem known as "compression shock". With the improved closuresealing, the rapid closing of a door on an otherwise closed vehicleoften results in a momentary air compression in the passengercompartment. In essence, trapped air inside the compartment cannotescape past the tight weatherstrip seals around the various closures.This problem is particularly acute in designs where the closure movessubstantially transverse to the body, such as in conventional swingingdoors or hatch back lids. This compression shock not only furtherincreases the closing effort required but also causes an unpleasantfeeling to the passengers.

Attempts to reduce door closing effort have in the past resulted inreduced sealing efficiency. Conversely, past attempts to emphasizeimproved sealing have resulted in a need for excessive closing effort.Neither extreme is favored by consumers. Thus, automotive engineers havefound it necessary to compromise these conflicting engineeringrequirements, with the best designs heretofore carefully balancing therelationship between sealing and closing effort.

Some efforts in the past have addressed the seemingly conflictingconcerns and provided some limited improvement. For example, space bleedapertures have been formed along the entire length of weatherstrip soair is not entrapped as it is compressed inside the weatherstrip whenthe closure is closed. More specifically, the apertures insure that theinternal air pressure is ambient at all times. Thus, mechanical flexingof the weatherstrip remains the principal design criteria for sealingwith this improvement. Advantageously, by eliminating air entrapment,the closing effort for a rapidly closing door is reduced Still, itshould be recognized that this approach is not effective in improvingthe sealing efficiency since the interference fit is not appreciablyincreased.

Another idea that has gained some acceptance in the automotive industryrecently is to employ at least two weatherstrips in juxtaposition toseal together when the door or lid is closed. The engaging parts of theweatherstrips are designed to form a labyrinth seal, and as a resultsome improved sealing is obtained. Of course, with this arrangement thedegree of interference fit commensurate with easy closing is stillsorely limited, and the cost of forming the seal is substantiallyincreased.

Another approach that has been proposed for vehicles is to make theweatherstrips inflatable. The basic idea is that when the door isclosed, a positive pressure (greater than ambient pressure) is appliedinside the closed tubular weatherstrip to provide expansion against thedoor and door frame, thus providing increased interference and animproved seal. As will be recognized, this approach does reduce the doorclosing effort and compression shock because the non-inflatedweatherstrip does not engage in an interference fit with the door andthe door frame until the door is closed and the superatmosphericpressure is applied.

This concept, while useful in aircraft and aerospace vehicles, presentsproblems when attempts have been made to adapt it to general automotiveuse. First, in order to provide a closure sealing system using thesuperatmospheric pressure concept, a sophisticated air pressure supplysystem that is highly reliable must be provided. This is so since if airpressure is lost, a complete failure of the sealing function results andthe interior is susceptible to damage from water leakage, as well as thepassengers being exposed to extremes of hot and cold atmosphericconditions and excessive wind noise. Furthermore, such a sophisticatedair pressure system is relatively expensive, and thus adding suchauxiliary equipment is not conducive to competitive pricing of aconsumer product, such as an automobile.

Similarly, the superatmospheric inflatable weatherstrip must not losepressure over extended periods of time. To guard against this in anautomotive system where small, pin-hole leaks are inevitable, especiallyafter several years of use, an electric pump would be required to beperiodically energized to maintain the optimum sealing pressure. Such acondition would inevitably lead to the need for increased storagecapacity of the electrical battery in the automobile, and under extendedperiods of inactivity of the automobile, complete discharge of thebattery. Additionally, the superatmospheric pressure system must providerelatively sophisticated regulators to compensate for variations inambient pressure conditions, such as due to altitude and barometricpressure variations, as well as temperature variations. Such additionalcost adds to the prohibitiveness of using this type of system on a highvolume consumer product, such as an automobile.

The most effective approach to date for providing both improved sealingand easier closing of vehicular closures is set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,761,917 and 4,805,347 assigned to the assignee of this invention. Withthis approach, a deflatable sealing member forms a weatherstrip to sealthe opening in the vehicle body around the closure The sealing member isconnected to a vacuum source such as a bellows pump. When the closure isclosed, the sealing member is deflated so as not to engage in aninterference fit between the door and closure In this manner, closingeffort is reduced and compression shock eliminated. Following closing,the sealing member is vented to ambient pressure by a valve arrangement.This causes the sealing member to expand by built-in resilient memory toprovide firm sealing engagement with increased resilient interferencebetween the closure and the body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This approach has proven successful in reconciling the seeminglyconflicting problems of excessive closing effort and tight sealing butdoes present a significant additional cost. The present inventionaddresses this cost problem by providing a closure sealing mechanismwith a bellows pump actuated by closure movement as before but without avacuum venting valve. Instead, a programmed air leak or bleed isdesigned into the system preferably at the bellows that allows thelatter to overcome such leak during normal swift closing action but alsoallows for a reasonable fast bleed-off of the vacuum to permitweatherstrip sealing action shortly after latching.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea new and improved sealing apparatus and method overcoming theabove-described limitations and disadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sealingapparatus for swinging vehicular closures that provides the seeminglyconflicting advantages of both reduced closing effort and goodinterference sealing without a vacuum control valve.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of animproved sealing apparatus for a closure including a deflatable sealingmember connected to a bellows pump specially adapted without vacuumbreak valve control for convenient mounting in a hollow section of theclosure or frame adjacent but spaced from the hinge area of the closure.

Additional objects, advantages, and other novel features of theinvention will be set forth in part in the description that follows andin part will become apparent to those skilled in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned with the practice of theinvention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realizedand attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with thepurposes of the present invention as described herein, an apparatus isprovided for tightly sealing a vehicular closure such as a swingingdoor, hatch back door or trunk lid of an automobile. The apparatusincludes a resilient sealing member having a deflatable bulbular ortubular section. The sealing member also includes a mounting section tofix the sealing member either around the inner peripheral margin of theclosure or to the vehicle body around the entire periphery of theopening. When the door is closed and the sealing member inflated, atight interference seal is provided between the door and the body thatprevents the passage of air and moisture.

A vacuum source, in the form of a bellows pump, is connected to thesealing member. When the negative pressure of the bellows pump isapplied to the sealing member, the tubular section deflates andcollapses. Conversely, when air and ambient pressure is readmitted tothe sealing member, the tubular section reexpands due to its resilientmemory.

More specifically, the bellows pump includes a mounting end specificallyadapted for mounting the bellows pump to the closure or the vehiclebody. The opposite end of the bellows pump is relatively displaceablefor actuating the bellows Where the bellows pump is mounted to thevehicle body, the relatively displaceable end of the bellows pump isconnected to the closure. Conversely, when the bellows pump is mountedto the closure, the relatively displaceable end is connected to thevehicle body. In this manner, the bellows pump is adapted to becompressed in response to the relative movement as the closure isopened, and expanded as the closure is closed.

A flow control circuit provides fluid communication between thedeflatable sealing member, the bellows pump and the ambient atmosphereto control the deflation and inflation of the sealing member. The usualintake and exhaust valves are provided for the pump but now instead of avacuum break or venting valve, there is now simply provided a leak portat the pump. According to the present invention, this flow circuitsimply comprises a continuously open line connection between the sealingmember and the pump and a leak port in the bellows that provides limitedcommunication between the latter and atmosphere.

The leak port is designed so as to be overcome by the bellows duringnormal swift closing action so that negative (subatmospheric) pressureis applied at a sufficient rate to deflate the sealing member as thedoor is closed. With the sealing member deflated and thus collapsed, thedegree of interference between the sealing member and the door or doorframe is reduced, or even substantially eliminated. Thus, the forcerequired to overcome the interference and latch the door isadvantageously reduced proportionally. Consequently, a desirable,relatively low closing effort is all that is required to operate thedoor. In addition, it should be recognized that because the operativetubular section of the sealing member is collapsed so that a spaceexists between the sealing member and the closure or closure frame,passage of air from the interior of the vehicle is allowed to avoidcompression shock.

After the closure is closed and air is released past the sealing memberas described, the leak port readmits air at ambient pressure at areasonably fast rate to the sealing member to reestablish sealing.Because of its inherent resiliency, the sealing member then assumes thedesired interference fit/sealing engagement between the closure andclosure frame. Advantageously, when the operative tubular section isexpanded, the sealing member provides the desired increased resilientinterference that is not possible with presently utilized closed cellsponge weatherstripping without increasing the closing effort tounacceptable extremes. Of course, it is possible to provide the improvedsealing without raising the required closing effort with the presentsystem since the sealing member is collapsed when the closure isinitially closed.

In order to absorb and suppress shock when the closure is initiallyclosed, the sealing member may include a non-deflatable bumper portion.Preferably, the bumper portion is integrally formed as a part of thesealing member that substantially retains its original cross sectionwhen subjected to negative pressure.

The means for connecting the relatively displaceable end of the bellowspump to the closure or vehicle body, preferably, includes a cable. Thiscable is attached to the displaceable end of the bellows pump andextends through the bellows body and mounting end of the bellows pump toa connection point on either the closure or the vehicle body. A sealingelement provided on the mounting end of the bellows pump engages thecable so as to prevent the passage of air between the atmosphere and theinterior of the bellows other than through the leak port which ispreferably formed in this end (the mounting end) of the bellows. Theseal, of course, is also adapted to allow the cable to slide back andforth through the mounting end of the bellows thus allowing actuation ofthe bellows pump as the closure is opened and closed.

The flow circuit connecting the bellows pump, deflatable sealing memberand atmosphere, since it has no operating valves and attendant operatingmeans, is not only less costly than the prior art devices it is alsomore reliable as well as simpler to manufacture and maintain. Moreover,the pump containing the leak port may be conveniently mounted in acavity or open space in the closure or vehicle body adjacent or remotefrom the hinge area of the door. Thus, the complete apparatus of thepresent invention may be very simply incorporated into vehicles aspresently designed. Consequently, the present apparatus eliminates anyneed to redesign the hinge area of a vehicle closure to accommodate thebellows pump. In addition, the leak port can be made adjustable with asimple valve to accommodate different or changing leak requirements thatare not possible to meet with a fixed leak port size (diameter). Withthe adjustable leak port, only one manufactured design then need be madeto suit a wide range of usage.

Still other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent to those skilled in this art from the following descriptionwherein there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of thisinvention, simply by way of illustration of one of the modes andalternative embodiments best suited to carry out the invention. As willbe realized, the invention is capable of still other differentembodiments and its several details are capable of modifications invarious obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention.Accordingly, the drawing and description will be regarded asillustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification illustrates several aspects of the present invention andtogether with the description serves to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a broken-away side view of a vehicle equipped with theapparatus of the present invention for sealing between a closure and abody;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bellows forming a part of theapparatus of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 and 3A show front and rear exploded perspective views of thebellows pump of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematical representation showing the apparatus of thepresent position when the closure is closed;

FIG. 4A is a side view representation showing the bellows pump with adouble bellows in the expanded position assumed when the closure isclosed;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the operation of theapparatus of the present invention as the closure is being closed; and

FIG. 5A is a schematical representation showing the bellows pump with adouble bellows in a fully compressed state (closure open).

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawing.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing another embodiment of theleak port.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged exploded view of the leak port in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a view taken on the line 8--8 in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is now made to the drawing figures showing the system orapparatus 10 of the present invention for tightly sealing a closure,such as a door D on an automobile. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, theapparatus 10 includes a sealing member or weatherstrip 12 having abulbular or tubular section 14 (see FIGS. 4, 5). The sealing member 12is mounted to the face F of the door frame or vehicle body B by means ofa mounting section 16. A one-way clip (not shown), adhesive or any otherappropriate means known in the art, may be utilized to secure thesealing member 12 in place.

The sealing member 12 is constructed of EPDM or other elastomericmaterial. In this way, the sealing member 12 is provided with sufficientresiliency to furnish a tight sealing engagement with the door D when inthe closed position with the sealing member 12 expanded by venting toatmosphere (again, see FIG. 4). Of course, since the sealing member 12forms a ring extending around the entire periphery of the door opening,complete sealing of the opening is provided. As a result, the passage ofair and moisture between the door D and the door frame face F isprevented.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the sealing member 12 is connected toa bellows pump 18 by means of an air flow line 20 that attaches to anipple 21 on the pump. Advantageously, the bellows pump 18 of theapparatus 10 is specially designed to allow mounting to the vehicle bodyB or the door D in a location adjacent but spaced from the door hingearea. Thus, the apparatus 10 may be incorporated into present automobiledesigns without any significant redesigning of the door hinge area inorder to accommodate the bellows pump as has been required with pastdesigns. In effect, the bellows pump 18 may simply be mounted in anexisting cavity within the vehicle body, the wheel well or the dooritself.

As described in greater detail below, when the door D is opened byswinging action, the bellows pump 18 is compressed. Thus, when the doorD is closed, the bellows pump 18 is reexpanded sucking air from thetubular section 14 of the sealing member 12 so as to generate a partialvacuum in the tubular section. Thus, the sealing member 12 deflates andcollapses as shown in FIG. 5. This serves to reduce the cross section ofthe sealing member 12 thereby reducing the degree of interferencebetween the sealing member and the door D as the door closes andlatches. The resulting decrease in the effort required to close andlatch the door D significantly increases consumer satisfaction with theautomobile. Once closed, the tubular section 14 of the sealing member 12is allowed to vent to atmosphere by designed-in leakage or bleed at thebellows as described in detail later. This serves to reexpand thesealing member 12 through resilient memory so as to provide the desiredincreased interference fit for maximum sealing of the door openingagainst the passage of air and moisture.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, the bellows pump 18 includes aflexible, elastomeric body 22. Preferably, the body 22 is constructed ofa flex fatigue-resistant material, such as the polyester elastomerHytrel, available from E. I. duPont DeNemours of Wilmington, Del. Thebody 22 is sealed by means of the ends 24, 26 and may include ifnecessary an internal compression spring 27 constantly urging thebellows to its expanded position The plate of mounting end 24 isspecially adapted for mounting the bellows pump 18 in a cavity of thevehicle body B, such as within the fender (see FIG. 1), in the door oreven in such remote locations as in the bumper. For example, the platemay include an integral mounting bracket 28 that may be fastened bybolts 30 to the vehicle body B (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Of course, however,it should be recognized that any other suitable mounting method known inthe art could be utilized.

The opposite end 26 of the bellows pump 18 is relatively displaceablewith respect to the mounting end 24 so as to allow actuation of thebellows pump. Displacement of the end 26 toward the end 24 compressesthe elastomeric body 22 and reduces the volume of the pumping chamber23. Conversely, displacement of the end 26 away from the end 24 expandsthe body 22 and increases the volume of the pumping chamber 23.Preferably, the plate forming the end 26 includes an inwardly extendingportion 34 designed to displace substantially all remaining ambient airwhen the bellows body 22 is fully compressed (see FIG. 5) so that a morecomplete vacuum can be drawn.

As shown in FIG. 1, the displaceable end 26 of the bellows pump 18 isconnected to the door D by means of a flexible cable 36. The cable 36extends through an aperture in the end 26. A knot 38 at the end of thecable 36 prevents the cable from pulling through the aperture while alsoserving to seal the same. The cable 36 passes through the pumpingchamber 23 and out through a resilient sealing element 40 that sealinglyengages the cable while allowing for relative sliding movement. Theopposite end 42 of the cable 36 may be fixed to the door D by means of abolt or some other method.

A flow control circuit, generally designated by reference numeral 44,directs air flow into and out of the bellows pump 18. The flow controlcircuit 44 includes a one-way exhaust valve 46 on the mounting endbracket 24 (FIG. 3), a one-way intake valve 48 on the opposite side ofthe plate of the end 24 (FIG. 3A) and also a programmed leak or bleedport 50 in the latter end (FIGS. 2 and 3).

When the door D is swung open, the cable 36 draws the plate on thedisplaceable end 26 of the bellows pump 18 toward the plate on themounting end 24. Thus, the volume of the pumping chamber 23 is reducedand air is expelled from the bellows pump 18 through the one-way exhaustvalve 46 into the atmosphere. It should be appreciated that the flow ofthe air from the bellows pump 18 to the remainder of the flow controlcircuit 44 is blocked by the one-way intake valve 48 (see FIG. 3A).Thus, the air flowing from the bellows pump 18 is forced to theatmosphere and does not tend to inflate the sealing member 12 throughthe flow line 20. As shown, both the one-way exhaust valve 46 andone-way flow valve 48 may be simple flapper check valves.

When the door D is closing, the cable 36 goes slack and the bellows body22 reexpands through resilient memory thereby increasing the volume ofthe pumping chamber 23. As the chamber 23 expands, a vacuum is createdin the bellows pump 18. Air from the atmosphere cannot flow past theone-way exhaust valve 46. Consequently, air is drawn into the bellowspump 18 through the intake valve 48 and the entire flow control circuit44. The bleed port 50 is made small enough to allow the bellows pump 18to draw air from the sealing member 12 through the feed line 20 and theone-way intake valve 48 over and above that drawn through the bleed port50 sufficient to evacuate the tubular section 14 and thereby cause thesealing member 12 to deflate and collapse so as to assume a reducedcross section 14 (see FIG. 5). Thus, the door D closes and latcheseasier since the interference between the door and the vehicle body B isreduced or even substantially eliminated. Further, compression shock orair bind is reduced since air that would be otherwise trapped in thesealed passenger compartment can flow past the sealing member 12.

Following normal swift closure, the leak port 50 then allows air atambient pressure to flow into the bellows pump 18 and thence through theair flow line 20 to again fill the tubular section 14 of the sealingmember 12. As the tubular section 14 fills with air, it expands from thecollapsed condition shown in FIG. 5 to the expanded, full cross sectioncondition shown in FIG. 4. The reinflation lags slightly behind thenormal swift closing due of the length of air feed line 20 and the smallsize of the leak port 50. In this reexpanded, full cross sectioncondition, the sealing member 12 provides firm sealing engagement withthe desired resilient interference between the door D and the vehiclebody B. This resulting improved sealing serves to increase passengercomfort and owner satisfaction by reducing wind noise and preventing thepassage of moisture into the passenger compartment.

While the present invention has been described and shown with thebellows pump 18 mounted to the vehicle body B adjacent the hinge area,it should be appreciated that the pump could just as easily be mountedin other convenient cavities of the vehicle. Of course, the flexiblecable 36 could extend between the bellows 18 and the door along aserpentine path if necessary. Suitable guides, such as tracks, rollersor tubes, could be used to properly direct the cable 36.

In the event that additional vacuum capacity is needed to collapse thetubular seal member 12, such as with luxury cars or hatch back doors,the double bellows pump 22a, 22b may be provided, as shown in FIG. 5A.In this instance, the air flow line 20 is connected to both of thebellows pumps 22a, 22b through the end mounting plate 24 and a bleedport 50a and 50b is provided for each of the respective pumps. The cable36 rather than passing through the bellows chamber 23 is connected tothe single displaceable end plate 26 between the two bellows pumps 22a,22b. As shown in FIG. 5A, the compression by providing tension on thecable 36 is the same as with the single bellows 22. In essence, theoperation is the same except that the volume capacity is doubled.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-8, there is shown another embodiment of theleak port wherein the leakage bleed rate is made adjustable by the useof an adjustable bleed valve 52 instead of a port of fixed size(diameter). Otherwise, the parts remain like those previously describedand are accordingly designated by the same numbers. The adjustable bleedvalve 52 comprises a valve body 54 attached to the bellows' front end 24by swaging over the distal end of a male extension 55 of the valve bodythat is received in an enlarged hole 56 in the end 24. The valve bodyhas a tapered hole 58 by which air is allowed to flow into the bellowsand a threaded hole 60 co-axial with the tapered hole. A threadedtapered pin 62 is threaded into the threaded hole 60 and has its taperedportion 64 received with clearance 65 in the tapered hole 58 (see FIG.8) so as to allow communication of the latter with a chamber 66 in thevalve body that is open to the atmosphere through a side port 68. Thetapered pin portion 64 acts to precisely determine the flow of air(rate) through the tapered hole 58 according to the adjustment of thethreaded pin 62 with advancement into the valve body reducing theclearance 65 and thus the flow and, alternatively, retraction of the pinincreasing the flow. And this can be set either at the factory where thedesired rate is already specified or may be set later according to enduse requirements.

In summary, numerous benefits have been described which result fromemploying the concepts of the present invention Advantageously, theapparatus 10 of the present invention is specially adapted to provideswinging vehicular closures that require reduced closing effort whilealso providing good interference sealing. As the door D is closed, thedoor opening sealing member 12 is deflated to reduce interferenceengagement and allow closing and latching the door with less effort.Further, at the instant of closing, air can flow past the sealing memberso that the annoying problem of compression shock is substantiallyeliminated. Immediately upon closing, the sealing member is passivelyvented (i.e., without valve operation) allowing expansion by resilientmemory to full cross section so as to provide interference engagementwith the door for maximum sealing.

As a further advantage, the bellows pump 18 with the attendant fixedbleed port 50 or adjustable bleed valve 52 for deflating the sealingmember 12 is specially designed so as to allow mounting at anyconvenient location, such as a cavity within the vehicle body B or doorD. More specifically, the bellows pump 18 includes a flexible actuatorin the form of the cable 36 that may even be extended around guides fromremote locations. In this way, the present apparatus is not limited toinstallation on only full or luxury model cars where sufficient roomexists in the door hinge area for the mounting of a bellows pump.Further, there is no need to redesign the door hinge area to accommodatea bellows pump.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the inventionhas been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible inlight of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and describedto provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention andits practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in theart to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All suchmodifications and variations are within the scope of the invention asdetermined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance withthe breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An apparatus for sealingbetween a closure and a body such as a door and door frame of a vehicle,comprising:a deflatable sealing member for resilient interferenceengagement between said closure and said body; vacuum source means in heform of a bellows actuatable by resilient memory to form a vacuum whenconnected to said deflatable sealing member; means for mounting saidbellows at one end to one of said closure or said body and including anopposite, relatively displaceable end for actuating said bellows tocondition said bellows for actuation by resilient memory; means forconnecting said relatively displaceable end of said bellows to the otherof said closure or said body to contract said bellows for actuation byresilient memory only during opening of said closure, said bellows beingexpanded by resilient memory during closing of said closure; and a flowcontrol circuit connected o said bellows including first valve meansoperable to open said bellows to atmosphere during contraction of saidbellows, second valve means operable to connect said sealing means tosaid bellows during actuation by resilient memory to deflate saidsealing member to a reduced cross section only during closing of saidclosure so as to allow passage of air from inside the vehicle past saidsealing member to substantially reduce closing effort and eliminatecompression shock, and adjustable bleed valve means having an adjustablebleed port directly continuously connecting said bellows withatmosphere, said bleed port being adjustable to a size that assuredlyallows said bellows to overcome air flowing from the atmosphere throughsaid bleed port into said bellows during contracture so as to effect thedeflation of said sealing member but also assuredly allow the internalpressure of said sealing member to fully return to atmospheric pressureand expand said sealing member by resilient memory to full cross sectionafter closing of said closure so as to provide firm sealing engagementwith the desired resilient interference between said closure and saidbody in various sealing installations having different air bleedrequirements.
 2. An apparatus for sealing between a closure and a bodysuch as a door and door frame of a vehicle, comprising:a deflatablesealing member for resilient interference engagement between saidclosure and said body; vacuum source means in the form of a bellowsconnected to said deflatable sealing member; means for mounting an endof said bellows to one of said closure or said body, said bellows havingan opposite, relatively displaceable end for actuating said bellowsremote from the other of said closure or said body; means for remotelyconnecting said relatively displaceable end of said bellows to the otherof said closure or said body, said connecting means including a cableextending through said mounting end of said bellows and flexible foractuating said bellows to reduce the volume thereof only during openingof said closure, said bellows being actuatable by resilient memory andthe slackening of said cable only during closing of said closure tocreate a vacuum, means being provided on said mounting end for sealinglyengaging said cable; and flow control means including an exhaust checkvalue connected to said bellows and openable upon opening of saidclosure to reduce the volume of said bellows in response to actuation bysaid cable and an intake check value connected to said bellows andopenable during closing of said closure in response to actuation of saidbellows by said resilient memory to admit atmospheric air into saidbellows, a flow line connected between said intake check valve and saiddeflatable sealing member, and adjustable bleed valve means having ableed port of variable size directly continuously connecting saidbellows with atmosphere for assuring said sealing member is deflated toa reduced cross section only during closing of said closure by a vacuumin the bellows and through said intake check valve and for assuring thatthe internal pressure of said sealing member is allowed to fully returnto ambient pressure after closing by flow of ambient air through saidbleed port, whereby passage of air is allowed from inside the vehiclepast said sealing member o substantially reduce closing effort andeliminate compression shock and said sealing member expands by resilientmemory to full cross section after closing if said closure so as toprovide firm sealing engagement with the desired resilient interferencebetween said closure and said body.
 3. An apparatus as set forth inclaim 2 wherein said bleed port is in said mounting end of said bellows.